How To Pick The Right Realtor

Thirty years of experience as a realtor has taught Julie Mansfield Smith the most important thing is to find one who specializes in what you are searching for. Looking for a farm, ranch, timber, recreational or hunting property? It’s simple: Contact Julie at Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company.

What is not so simple is everything else that goes into finding the piece of land of your dreams, but that is where Smith can ensure the best for her clients. Smith offers five pieces of advice for prospective buyers looking for their own slice of the Eastern Oregon lifestyle.

Get a realtor

Seems simple enough, right? Then take the simple step.

“There is a lot of complexity to a land purchase, a lot of research and information — ranging from water rights, easements, zoning, land use and disclosures — that the buyer needs to be aware of so they know what they are purchasing and what can be done on the land,” Smith said.

Smith said one of the biggest assists a realtor can offer is helping people understand what they are purchasing and avoid possible issues of liability down the road.

“It’s not just what are they buying and what do they like about it, but are there any drawbacks that could have them rethinking after buying,” she said.

Things to look for in a realtor

A licensed realtor has a fiduciary responsibility to work in the best interest of their clients. Smith invests 30 hours every two years in continuing education courses.

“We are a people service-oriented business,” Smith said. “Being honest is the simplest act you can do to pay it forward.”

Smith also is a member of several real estate organizations that speak to her years of service and her dedication to her clients. Knowledge is power and Smith never stops learning.

She is a member of the Oregon Association of Realtors, Regional Multiple Listing Service, Grant County Chamber of Commerce and the Umatilla County Board of Realtors (neither Grant nor Wheeler counties have a board). She also has national memberships with the Land Broker Co-op and the Realtors Land Institute.

“By belonging, I am able to get information on properties and stay current with the forms and regulations that need to be followed in the state of Oregon,” she said. “It also gives me places to network, which helps me find properties.”

Smith also has been awarded the Americas’ Best Brokerage logo by The Land Report since 2018.

“It is an award for the best brokerages throughout the nation,” she said.

Smith’s affiliation with Mossy Oak Properties gives her a tremendous advantage over other local and even regional brokers in her area.

“Being a part of a large brand and marketing platform like Mossy Oak Properties means you have a local face, but national marketing power that ensures your property has the best possible reach,” she said. “So many buyers in our area do not live here, and being able to reach them via Mossy Oak Properties website — the websites they feed listings into — in addition to their social media and other digital marketing efforts, gives us the reach needed.

“Our brand is so well recognized and respected that it helps our listings stand out from the pack when they do end up on the land for sale websites.”

Make sure your realtor can negotiate well on your behalf

Everyone wants the same goal: The seller wants to sell, the buyer wants to buy.

“Emotion can easily become part of a sale,” Smith said. “That is why you need someone with experience who knows what they are selling or buying to help their clients.

“The less a realtor talks the more they hear.”

Smith said almost all sales involve some sort of compromise, but a realtor that can navigate each parties’ wishes can help close a deal. Smith said negotiating is always about money, but an experienced realtor can help find ways to close gaps and make sure their clients are pleased by the time they sign their names on the dotted line.

Determine if the property is right for you

Just because a buyer likes a property doesn’t mean it will serve their needs well.

“People need to know if you can build on the property and what is capable of being put on the property,” she said. “‘Do you want power on your property?’ Well, you are probably going to need an easement to go on someone else’s property to connect to it and bring it over.

“If you want to make a living off the land it has to fit the criteria for what you want to do.”

Smith said part of the appeal of Eastern Oregon is the rural lifestyle, but that comes with the trade-off of more expense to get materials, transport them and build.

Understand the benefit of a land purchase in Eastern Oregon

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on pushing the value of properties up in Grant, Baker, Union, Wallowa, Umatilla, Harney, Wheeler and Morrow counties.

“The prices have stayed on the higher end and the demand is still there,” Smith said. “But they are not making any more land, so investing in land is one of the smartest things anyone can do for your future and your future generations.”

Smith said there are freedoms that come with owning your own land that can’t be found in large cities or more urban areas.

“This is a special part of America, and when people visit this area for the first time, they do not want to leave,” she said. “Being a part of fulfilling their dreams of owning land in Eastern Oregon is a huge honor.”